Arjuna & Karna/Mahabharata
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A 16 page research paper that examines the characterization of two heroes, Arjuna and Karna, who appear in the great Indian epic the Mahabharata. As epic heroes, both men are presented as the embodiment of all admirable qualities. Both men are natural born warriors, who are tremendously skilled in battle, excellent archers and courageous leaders. However, there are differences between them, which are also discussed. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Filename: kharjkar.wps

Discovering the Radiant Mind
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Personal response to reading The Radiant Mind collection edited by Jean Smith. The Radiant Mind is a practice in walking the path of Buddha. It is the search for knowledge like walking a path in search of teachers, except that the teachers are all located in one place, The Radiant Mind. Not only is the reader privy to the history of Buddha and Buddhism, but is also provided a means to begin practicing Vietnamese Buddhism, or “the Mindful way” (39), which can be translated to mental discipline. 1 work cited. jvRadntM.rtf
Filename: jvRadntM.rtf

Dragons of the East: Distinctions in Morphology and Function
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A 10 page overview of dragons. The author distinguishes between Eastern and Western dragons noting that while in the West dragons are typically regarded as evil and something to be eradicated, Eastern dragons are most often revered. Morphology and function differs radically, however, even among eastern dragons. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: PPdragon.rtf

Learning the Miracle of Mindfulness with Ease
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Personal response to reading The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh. Reading The Miracle of Mindfulness is a practice in mindfulness because of the author’s and translator’s simple use of mindfulness in creating the written record of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Vietnamese Buddhist philosophy. For example, even before getting past the introduction, on page viii (the second page of the introduction), the reader begins to become aware of his breathing solely with the first mention of its importance. This is before the first definition of breath on page fifteen as a “bridge of consciousness” that unites body and mind and provides the means for focusing on breathing to practice mindfulness and calm. The Miracle of Mindfulness is a method that draws you in and gets you practicing it without agreement and without opportunity for dissent – and as you read through the book, you learn each message in a very personal way through the conscious act of reading. 1 work cited. jvmindfl.rtf
Filename: jvmindfl.rtf

Mehta & The Healing Powers Of The River Sutra In Indian Culture
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A 4 page discussion of the Indian myth of the River Sutra. The writer examines this story as being similar in theme to popular American 'old wives' tales.' The healing powers of the river can easily be compared with those of chicken soup-- the capacity to cure is really only mental. The paper goes on to discuss the plight of individual characters along the River Sutra but it is ultimately concluded that the River does not have any healing powers over the seriously ill. No additional sources cited.
Filename: Riversut.wps

Modernity and the Kama Sutra
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Modern society is obsessed with sex. Any glance at the television screen, tabloids, or even traditional news outlets informs of a world that cannot get enough of the dirty details of a star’s sexual affairs or even those of a Prince and Princess or a President of a country. Today, movie stars and celebrities are considered automatic ambassadors for a country, making the sexploits of these national figures even more riveting to most people than serious global issues. In fact, there is no taboo sexual subject. This makes it difficult for a religious text such as the Kama Sutra to be held up as a religious document and retain the proper respect it is due. 4 works cited. jvkamasu.rtf
Filename: jvkamasu.rtf

Robert Goldman/ Gods, Priests and Warriors
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A 5 page overview of Robert Goldman's Gods, Priests and Warriors, which offers insight into one of the world's great collections of mythology, the Sanskrit masterpiece, the Mahabharata. Goldman perspective on the Mahabharata concerns the fact that in this massive epic, there is a disproportionate amount of text devoted to the histories and exploits of one particular priestly clan, the Bhrgus or Bhargavas. No additional sources cited.
Filename: khbhrgus.wps

Role of the Feminine in Ancient Creation Myth
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A 3 page essay that contrasts and compares 3 creation stories. In ancient creation mythology, the role of feminine deities, and women in general, is to provide a sense of conflict, which serves to both heighten the drama of the story as well as provide a rationale that justifies the societal status quo of male domination. This pattern is evident in three ancient creation myths, “Enuma Elish” (ancient Babylonian epic), Hesiod’s “Theogony,” and Book of Genesis (ancient Hebrew). No additional sources cited.
Filename: kheehes.rtf